When I opened the window, the fresh and cold air of winter brushed against my skin.

The fresh air, the warm sunshine, the sound of the birds, with my husband lying in bed, everything was perfect.

I sat on the bed and tapped Blake's cheek, who had just fallen asleep.

"Blake, it's already morning. Get up."

"Hmm. Five more minutes."

He said in a cute drowsy voice.

He must be very tired yesterday because he fell asleep at dawn after staying up late at night.

The sight of Blake mumbling without even opening his eyes reminded me of the old days.

I smiled and rubbed his soft cheeks. I want to let him rest like this, but I decided to have breakfast with Tenstheon today.

We'll be late if he sleeps more.

"Crown prince, wake up now."

I whisked off the blanket. Then Blake frowned.

"Ancia, it's so hard for me to take it off every morning."

He's saying something that will be misunderstood again! Don't leave out the word vaguely!

I glanced at him without saying a word. Then Blake smiled suspiciously and hugged my waist.

"My wife is so warm."

Even if a rabbit grows, it does not become a wolf. My husband is also a white rabbit who has never changed. Just a little, no, maybe a lot more seductive.

He must know how beautiful he is. I wanted to listen to everything he wanted, but I said firmly.

"Wake up. We're going for breakfast. Our father's waiting."

"It's alright."

"It's not alright."

Tancinol disappeared and Richard was sealed. The truth of a thousand years ago has been revealed, and the roum discrimination is decreasing. Trade with Chang went smoothly, and the empire is peaceful.

Plus, Blake grew up to be a healthy and wonderful young man, and we were always together.

There was only one thing on my mind, although I was so happy that I didn't worry about anything these days.

Blake and Tenstheon are still at odds.

Blake's like this not because he was simply tired. He would rather sleep in and avoid eating with Tenstheon.

The three of us ate together once a day. However, Blake and Tenstheon were becoming more awkward

than closer.

If there was a conflict of opinion about political affairs or if it became awkward because of their fight, I would try to reconcile them, but it was not like that either.

The relationship between the two showed little signs of recovery.

"Come on, wake up!"

I forced Blake up, and I was able to get to the Phillia Palace without being late.

Even though we went just in time, Tenstheon arrived first and was waiting for us.

"Father, you're here already?"

"Ancia, you look very pretty today."

"Father looked wonderful too."

We exchanged greetings as usual. However, Blake only lowered his head slightly without saying a word. Tenstheon tried to move on without saying anything.

It can't go on like this.

I send a signal to father through my eyes.

'Say hello to Blake too! A light compliment! Praise him! Come on!'

"Hmmm."

Did he read my eyes correctly? Tenstheon looked at Blake and cough awkwardly.

He hesitated for a moment about what to say and slowly opened his mouth.

"Hmm...you're pretty too."

"......"

"......"

Blake's expression hardened, and I was speechless.

Father, that's not the compliment your son wants...

I don't know how someone who excels at everything else became like this when it is related to Blake.

Finally, today's breakfast ended in an awkward atmosphere.

***

How could she make the distance between the two closer?

In fact, it was not a problem that would be solved easily.

Blake was hurt as a child. Of course, Tenstheon had his reasons, but even so, it was up to Blake to forgive him or not.

No one could force him until his mind was ready.

However, I felt uncomfortable because I think it was because of me that the two of them became like that. If I hadn't disappeared at that time, they would have been much better off than now...

"Ancia."

Looking at roses while sighing, I turned my head when I heard a man's voice.

"Eunhan!"

"I'm sorry, I came a little late."

"No, I've just arrived as well. "

I was waiting in the glass greenhouse when I heard from Tenstheon that Eunhan was coming.

"How have you been?"

"I'm fine, thanks to you, my workload has decreased. How are you?"

"I've been fine too."

"That's great."

Eunhan smiled softly. He always had that calm yet elegant expression.

"I brought the book you mentioned before."

Eunhan gave me a book wrapped in silk cloth.

After treating tancinol with taekri tea, I became interested in the herbs from Chang. When we met before, I said that I was curious about Chang's medical books, and he didn't forget to bring them.

"Thank you very much."

"No, and this..."

Eunhan carried a box made of jade in his hand.

"What is this?"

The box looked so precious.

"It's a necklace."

"Necklace?"

When I asked again, Eunhan suddenly panicked and added an explanation.

"Ah, it doesn't mean anything special. In case there's a crisis like before, I think we need a device to communicate."

Eunhan visited the Imperial Palace by the time the tancinol incident was already taken care of.

When he heard what had happened, he was surprised and blamed himself for not being helpful.

And after that, he would visit us once every 15 days and ask how we were doing.

Taking care of Chang is already difficult and it would be even more difficult for him if he kept coming.

Rather than coming here directly, it would be better for him to use a communication device.

"But it looks so precious..."

"No, I prepared it because I wanted to. It's for our own good, so don't feel too much pressure."

But it seemed so precious.

I felt like I had to reciprocate when I received it. While thinking about the right gift, someone snatched the box.

"You come here very often. You must be very idle."

Blake lowered his eyes coldly looking at the jade box.

"Blake."

Blake said that sarcastically. I was startled and called his name carefully, but Blake continued in a cold tone.

"Aren't you able to eat enough of your hometown food? Why do you keep coming here?"

"Blake, what do you mean?"

I wondered why he said that out of the blue, but Eunhan shut up as if he understood it.

"It's nothing. Wife, I have something to talk about with the Emperor of Chang, would you please excuse us for a moment?"

Blake eased his expression and smiled at me.

"Alright..."

Although the relationship between the two is bad, they are the Crown Prince of Asteric and the Emperor of Chang respectively.

They won't act recklessly. I nodded and headed out of the greenhouse.

***

Tenstheon remained in his office after he had finished talking to Eunhan, reading letters from the nobles.

They were all useless things, such as letters to praise his achievements, and request for remarriage.

Among them, there was a letter with messy handwriting.

[Your Majesty is the one I respect the most. I want to be a great man like you.]

It was a letter written by the grandson of the Marquis of Sheldom himself.

His grandson is about eight years old this year...

Such letters were usually written by parents instead, but strangely, it was written by the child.

In addition, it was not formal and the overall content was a mess, as if it was written purely by the child themself without being watched by adults.

But Tenstheon felt this letter was really unique.

Respect...

He wasn't a man great enough to be respected.

He could not protect his only son back then. Even when Blake's curse was lifted, there was still no emotional bond between the two.

There were times when Blake held his hand again. He held the child in his arms, went back and forth to the field to teach him swordsmanship.

But everything was different when Ancia disappeared.

He couldn't comfort Blake properly because he felt guilty about losing Ancia.

He felt guilty to even talk to the child and he was angry being unable to find Ancia.

It all got tangled up and eventually their relationship broke.

The disappearance of Ancia left the grieving child lonely again.

'After all, everything is my fault.'

People agreed that Tenstheon was the best empire. He was always praised as a good father of the nation.

But in reality, he was a bad father. He was a fool who made mistakes because he didn't even know how to deal with his only son.

He looked at the letter with mixed feelings, and the door burst open as Blake came in.

Tenstheon was somewhat surprised to see his son suddenly at night. The black cat in Blake's hand caught his eye before he asked anything.

"Eunhan!"

"Meow!"

A cat was dangling from Blake's neck and cried sadly at Tenstheon.

"You know at a glance if it's a person you care about."

Blake spat out as he threw the cat into Tenstheon's arms.

"What are you doing!"

"I was angry because he was trying to do something with someone else's wife."

"What are you talking about?"

Tenstheon looked at the cat on his lap in surprise. However, Eunhan, who turned into a black cat, shook his head as if it was unfair.

"Meow!"